The MLB Draft

E5 Yaz

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I've been checking but seen nothing on the web about these off-field issues. Is there a link to what this is about?
 

czar

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As far as draft picks go, he worked out pretty well. They've gotten more value out of him than you can really ever expect out of a pick that isn't right up at the top of the draft.
That's actually an understatement. Buchholz's cumulative fWAR during his team control years was only 2.8 off the average #1 overall pick (11.8).

FWIW, the average #8-15 pick over the 1990-2006 period returned ~5 fWAR (if we want a baseline for Groome).
 

E5 Yaz

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E5 Yaz

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Sox are apparently his favorite team:
<a href="https://t.co/ejVdWmj8pu">pic.twitter.com/ejVdWmj8pu</a></p>&mdash; John DeRosier (@ACPressDeRosier) <a href="">June 10, 2016</a>

I can't format embedded Tweets for shit.

And if he somehow falls out of the Top 10 picks, there is of course the fallback position of the team with the No. 12 overall pick — the Boston Red Sox.

“I would be ecstatic to go to my favorite team. That would be awesome,” Groome said.

http://usatodayhss.com/2016/jason-groome-mlb-draft-barnegat-vanderbilt-baseball
 

chrisfont9

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May not be much of a signing issue.
http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2016/6/9/11804478/jason-groome-2016-mlb-draft-boston-red-sox-first-round
"I just want to play professional baseball," Groome told Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer in May. "I don’t really like school too much. I figure why not start a career earlier than go three years in college.
Plus, per Pete Abe, he's committed now to JuCo, not Vandy. Not sure when that changed but suggests he's signable. And Pedroia is his idol. Pedey should have called him by now.
 

moondog80

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Darnell's Son

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I've been checking but seen nothing on the web about these off-field issues. Is there a link to what this is about?
Sign-ability issues

Questions about why Jason Groome, ranked as the No. 1 prospect by Baseball America a few months ago, has seen his stock fall sharply over the past month in the wake of a tumultuous season at Barnegat High School, which he transferred back to after a year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

In a report on MLB.com, Groome has switched his commitment from Vanderbilt University to Chipola College, a junior college in Florida, which means he would be able to re-enter the draft next year if his agent, Jeff Randazzo, does not get the deal they're looking for. Another report indicated that Randazzo has floated a $4 million signing-bonus demand that could cause him to drop further in the first round.
 

RoDaddy

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Just went back to a pre-recorded MLB broadcast and they had Groome rated the top player in the draft! Their scouting profile:
- top if the roation starter (which we really need in our system. Right now, we just have Espinosa and maybe Kopech)
- three above ave pitches
- fastball up to 96
- big time curve
- good feel for change
- clean mechanics
-
 

MuzzyField

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I just took a tour st IMG and I was blown away with the fact that these kids live there like college kids. I don't know That any of my high school teammates or I could have handled that at 16...give the kid some time.
You should have seen the place when it was just the Bollettieri Tennis Academy and a bunch of 10 year-old tennis prodigies from all over the world were running around eating, breathing and eating all things tennis. Before IMG bought it and added an actual school to the facility the high school in the academy's district won a bunch of state tennis titles.
 

Byrdbrain

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If the kid really wants to play for the Sox, Boras will work it hard of course but he'll sign.
Boras isn't his agent, it is Jeff Randazzo as has been pointed out.

Edit:And that was also pointed out before I could point it out.
 

Snodgrass'Muff

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BA's write up on Groome:

12. RED SOX: Jason Groome, lhp, Barnegat (N.J.) High

Groome is a physical lefthander with potential for a potent three-pitch mix. He spent his junior season at IMG Academy before moving back home to New Jersey for his senior year. He has wide shoulders and thick, well-developed muscles. Groome’s fastball can reach into the mid-90s, touching as high as 97, and he shows the ability to locate the pitch down and to either side of the plate. As he settles in, Groome usually pitches in the low 90s, sitting at 90-94. His best secondary pitch is a menacing curveball, thrown with upper-70s velocity and plus bite. He’ll have to work on staying on top of and behind the pitch more consistently, but it could develop into a plus-plus pitch down the line. Groome also mixes in a changeup, which he’s able to spot down in the strike zone. He has a sound delivery with a clean arm, with the strength to repeat his mechanics. Physically, Groome is as gifted as any player in the class. He is also younger than many of his peers, not turning 18 until August. Groome is committed to Vanderbilt, but he is expected to sign if he’s selected as high as his tools would indicate.

Twitter handle: @jaygroome55


Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2016-draft-tracker/#2qcYZFrPF0QJks90.99
 

mauidano

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My nephew was a late 30's round draft pick coule years ago by D-Backs. Chose to go to school at Oregon instead. Tore it up in he Cape last summer and was primed for a break out year. Got injured in practice and red-shirted. Fucked up his chances to move up in this draft. He's sitting back and hoping to be picked again Saturday. Otherwise he's playing in the Cape again and back for a senior year at Oregon. Did workouts for Arizona and Seattle this past week.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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My nephew was a late 30's round draft pick coule years ago by D-Backs. Chose to go to school at Oregon instead. Tore it up in he Cape last summer and was primed for a break out year. Got injured in practice and red-shirted. Fucked up his chances to move up in this draft. He's sitting back and hoping to be picked again Saturday. Otherwise he's playing in the Cape again and back for a senior year at Oregon. Did workouts for Arizona and Seattle this past week.
What's his threshold for making the decision? Is it a dollar figure or draft slot?
 

Snodgrass'Muff

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High bar. /sarcasm
Groome has about as much a chance to pan out as Ball did on his draft day. Hell, they're even sort of similar as high school pitchers.

Coming into the year, the industry was split on whether Ball had a brighter future as an outfielder or a pitcher. That's no longer a question, as he has excelled on the mound to the extent that he could go in the first five picks overall. He has surpassed Indiana State's Sean Manaea as the top lefthander available by showing better stuff and more athleticism. Ball's fastball dipped to the upper 80s when he wore down toward the end of the showcase circuit last summer, but he has maintained a 91-94 mph heater all spring despite cold and wet weather. He still carries just 180 pounds on his 6-foot-6 frame, so he has plenty of room to add strength and velocity. His athleticism is equally impressive, as he does a fine job of maintaining and repeating his delivery for such a young and tall pitcher. His father restricted his use of a curveball before his junior season, but Ball already shows aptitude for spinning the ball and has an above-average breaker. He learned to rely on his changeup, which he throws with deceptive arm speed and nice fade. He has a fast arm and a clean arm action, and in a rarity for a high school arm, he has no obvious red flags. While Ball is a likely top 10 choice as a pitcher, the Padres would consider drafting him at No. 13 as an outfielder if he's available and he would go in the second or third round if he were strictly a position player. He's a plus runner with lefthanded power potential, though he has seemed a little anxious at the plate this spring and his bat speed is a tick down from its previous level. He profiles best as a right fielder but would have a chance to play center, and scouts rave about his makeup as well. A Texas recruit, he won't come close to stepping foot on campus.
 

Marbleheader

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My nephew was a late 30's round draft pick coule years ago by D-Backs. Chose to go to school at Oregon instead. Tore it up in he Cape last summer and was primed for a break out year. Got injured in practice and red-shirted. Fucked up his chances to move up in this draft. He's sitting back and hoping to be picked again Saturday. Otherwise he's playing in the Cape again and back for a senior year at Oregon. Did workouts for Arizona and Seattle this past week.
Hopefully he's working hard to be as white and American as possible.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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I can't believe he actually fell to them. I think I screamed only slightly less than his family.
 

mauidano

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What's his threshold for making the decision? Is it a dollar figure or draft slot?
It gets complicated after the 10th round and money. He wasn't happy at Oregon. Coaches are first rate assholes and led him to get injured. His dad flew there yesterday to pack up for the summer regardless. We are all just kind of waiting to see what happens. The shoulder injury is recovering nicely and if the D-Backs take him again it's possible he'll head out to rookie league, Missoula, Montana I believe. I think in all likelihood, he'll go play for Yarmouth-Dennis and go back for his senior year to improve draft status. "The best laid plans..."
 

leftfieldlegacy

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Has there been anything written about "off-field issues" per se? I've seen references to "maturity" and "makeup", which could be a lot of things.
He is listed as being 17 years 9 mos old which would have him turning 18 in September, so who knows how the kid will mature. That's always a risk drafting HS kids. The only thing I found repeatedly referenced his "signability" and the $4 million his agent is looking for. I'm not sure how the Red Sox could pass on this kid at 12.

This is from John Sickels of SB Nation http://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/4/15/11434594/2016-mlb-draft-jason-groome-lhp-barnegat-new-jersey?_ga=1.77503638.2034972086.1465520713
Talent-wise he stands out as an outstanding prospect, a 6-6 lefty with a smooth delivery and a fastball up to 95-96 MPH; easy low-effort heat, as they say. He has a very impressive curveball. He has a change-up that is very good for a high school pitcher. He has no red flags with his command, his mechanics are about as good as they can be for his size and age, and his pitching instincts are as good as his stuff. There are no concerns about his make-up, either; the suspension thing should be a non-issue.
In March Jon Heyman tweeted this
A GM on jason groome: "might be the best high school pitching prospect since clayton kershaw."
(sorry I don't know how to insert tweets)